It was a cold day, waiting on the photo boat for the race committee to start the race, then speeding around like devils at 50 miles/h following the boats after the start (now I know how fast is Hydroptere).

5 Miles in to the race we had to stop and after a short break off again full speed for almost 20 minutes towards the gybing mark. Once there we had to wait a bit.  My Iphone was playing Jean Michel Jarre, with the big lenses we saw them on the horizon coming closer and closer,  they seemed slow.
Soon we realized that they aren’t. My song wasn’t over and BMWO followed by the umpire boat gybed allready at the mark. Right after comes Alinghi 5:  The cup is gone from Switzerland.

Jürg

PS: The photo of Alinghi 5 was taken on the same leg as the BMWO photo, on the way to the finish after the gybe.

The race was way out, Alinghi on port and BMWO on Starboard entry, first cross dialup and penalty…..BMWO with the wing sails higher and faster on the beat almost 10 degrees and deeper and faster on the run almost 30 degrees.
Tomorrow is another day, forcast 2 knots. Alinghi keep saying we are fast with light wind…let’s see if we have a race tomorrow and who knows maybe we have a third race too…
Good evening from Valencia
Juerg

First day in Valencia, it doesn’t seem that in less than 3 days there will be the 33rd Americas cup. Plenty of activity going on, tv trucks cables, noise etc. The harbor is busy but no AC boat’s. BMWO is in the commercial harbor and Alinghi 5 is under the tent.

On the top of the Varadero building you can find 2 SNG flags and a big sign “Mediacenter” at the entrance. Even here lot’s of preparation activities going on. Nearby the Alinghi base, impressive building, shop is open, music plays.

We are used to those prevent activities, for a typical regatta that what’s normally happen but for the cup it’s a bit a strange feeling.
Another thing: The weather forecast for February 8th announce 5 knots of wind in the morning, will this be the Alinghi day or does the wing from BMWO will impress us all?

I’m looking forward to see what’s happening in the next days.

Jürg

33rd America’s Cup just entered in the startbox

What a situation, we just had the most interesting cup since ever with great races and since months two big guys of our sailing world are demonstrating their power.

Saturday GGYC came up with a new press release telling that Alinghi is not quite open to find a amicable settlement…

Sunday Alinghi came up saying we want to find a solution, we are ready to meet monday morning in New York….

Hard to belive, who is right who is wrong, that’s up to the judge of the New York court to decide, but I have a strong feeling that one of these two teams will come out as a looser. Is it SNG or GGYC?

Wee will se…

Probably the 33rd cup just entered the start box and the boats instead of a nice and calm dial up they just crossed each other with contact.

Now the question is did yellow (Alinghi) altered the course and infringe rule 16 or did blue failed to keep clear by rule 10….this time it’s not an umpire call but the court of New York.
Must be a quite hopeless task to go back to the team a say, guys we lost in court but now we go a win on the water….lets hope that the cup itseleve will not be the looser.

Good luck

Jürg

Read the latest press release from the GGYC

Read the latest press release from Alinghi